Sixth man J.R. Smith hit nine 3-pointers and scored 31 points as the Denver Nuggets pulled away in the second half for a 131-101 victory over the visiting Detroit Pistons on Saturday night.

Nene had 18 points and 11 rebounds and Ty Lawson added 15 points as Denver (39-27) put eight players in double figures and received 68 points from its bench in improving to 7-2 since trading Carmelo Anthony.

Chris Wilcox had a team-high 21 points for the Pistons (23-44), who allowed the Nuggets to shoot 56.8 percent (46 of 81) while capping an 0-3 road trip.

Denver seized control by netting the last 14 points of the third quarter as part of a 21-2 run to take a 93-74 cushion into the final quarter.

Raymond Felton buried a pair of 3-points and Lawson and Smith also connected from deep in the decisive spurt.

Smith finished 9 of 15 from beyond the arc – most coming after the game was well in hand – to help the Nuggets nail 18 of 37 3-pointers.